Perforating machine



. 8, 1936. J. w. BRYCE 2,053,481

PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l 'FlGJ.

E C Y R B W l PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwawto'a ilw- 8, 1936. J. w. BRYCE v PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 awucm foe fovncay I 8, 193%. J W, BRYCE 2,063,481

PERFORAT ING MACHINE Filed A 2, 1929 5 Shee tS-Sheet 4 Dec. 8, 1936. J. w. BRYCE v 2,063,431

PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1929 5 $heets--Sheet 5 FIGJO.

auoeutoz Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERFORATING MACHINE James W. Bryce, Bloomfield, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 2, 1929, Serial No. 383,046

4 Claims.

, operation of the perforating machine. Further.

even with a skilled operator, there is still the possibility of error due to human fallibility.

It is obviously advantageous to eliminate the human factor in perforating a card with original data. The elimination of the human factor would save the cost of skilled labor, reduce the possibilities of error, and enable speedier as well as more accurate transcription of the original data into the form of index points on record cards.

Broadly, therefore, the object of the present invention is to eliminate the human factor in perforating a card with data.

Stated more specifically, the object of the invention is to automatically control a perforator by means of original data for perforating a card with index points or perforations designating said data.

Further, an object of this invention is to automatically read graphic or printed or written characters of a record sheet and perforate a tabulating card in accordance with the characters.

Still further, an object of this invention is to sense conventionally readable printed or written data and perforate acard in accordance therewith. a

A further object of the invention is to read original data one item at a time and thereby control a perforating device in accordance with the items.

Again, an object of the invention is to read the original data one item at a time and control the perforator for step by step operation in accordance with said items.

An object is also to read original data and auto- -matically control a perforator in accordance therewithto punch a card with no more than a single index point in each column.

A further object is to provide alternative means for reading original or graphic or conventional characters to control a. perforator for punching a card with combinational hole indexpoints corresponding to the data.

Still further, an object of the invention is to automatically read printed or written data from -2 illustrate the control section of the machine.

a sheet and electrically control punch-operating devices in accordance with said data. I

Another object of the invention is to read data either in printed or written form or in the form of index points by means of light analyzing devices 5 to electrically control a perforator.

Further and other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth in the accompanying specification and claims, and shown in the drawings, which by way of illustration show what is 10 now considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the right half of the carrier and feeding mechanism for the sheet con- 15 taining the printed or written matter.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the punching mechanism.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of the written or printed numerals ll-9 with respect to the code points of which the analysis is taken.

Fig. 5 shows a single control field of the printed sheet with the arrangement of code points.

Fig. 6 is a table of the combination of code points characterizing each of numera1s'0-9.

Fig. 'l is a detail of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of the machine arranged for punching a card in accordance with a single index point code.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a part of the punch shown in Fig. 3, and,

Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the invention designed for perforating a card in accordance with a combinational hole code.

In general, the invention is embodied in a machine having a control section and a punching section. The former section includes the control sheet containing original printed or written items and a light analyzing device for reading the items one by one and controlling the punching section to perforate a card with index points corresponding to the analyzed items. The control of the punching section is effected by the analyzing device through the selective'operation of a plurality of circuits, which selectively energize magnets for causing operation of the punches.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figs. 1 and This section comprises a fixed frame l0 provided with vertical bars ll, l2, and I3 disposed length wise of the frame.

Bars ll, l2, and. I3 serve to slidably, support 5 the carriage II for movement longitudinally of the fixed frame. Bar II is provided for this purpose with upper and lower vertical rollers l between which is disposed the forward end of a bar 11 rigid with the carriage and extending lengthwise of the carriage. The rear end of bar I1 is engaged by horizontal rollers I8 carried on the upper end of bar l2. Rigid with the rear of carriage l5 are a pair of longitudinally extending rails 19 between which are seated rollers 28 carried'by bar l3. To further guide carriage l5 for slidable movement on the fixed frame, the latter carries a longitudinally disposed rod 2| passing through an opening 22 in the carriage.

The side plates 25 of the carriage rotatably carry a cylindrical platen 25 having fixed to the ends thereof wheels 21 provided with rounded notches 28 on the periphery. A holding pawl 29 pivoted to the side plate 25 adjacent the notched wheel is urged by a spring 30 into engagement with the periphery of the wheel. The pawl restrains accidental rotation of platen 25 but will freely ride out of the notches 28 upon the platen being rotated by a knob 3| fixed to the end of the shaft 32 of the platen.

The platen is adapted to support on its periphery the opaque control sheet S bearing rows of items printed thereon in any color contrasting with the color of the sheet. The rear of the sheet S rests on inclined plate 35 rigid with the carriage. The sheet then passes around the periphery of platen 25 and upwardly into engagement with the front of a vertical plate 35 rigid with the carriage.

The control sheet is held in firm engagement with the periphery of platen 25 by rollers 31 and 38. Rollers 31 are rotatably carried between the upper ends of plates 39. The lower ends of said plates are rotatably mounted on a shaft 49 mounted in the carriage. Springs 4| are coiled about the shaft 40 and have one of their ends fixed to the shaft. The other of their ends is fixed to the plates 39. The effect of the spring is to normally move rollers 31 towards the platen 25.

Rollers 38 are journalled in plates 43 which are also rotatably carried by shaft 49 and urged towards the platen by springs 44. A rod 45 limits the movement of plates 39 and 43 towards the platen. I

The rod 45 is of oblong shape and is journalled at its ends between the side plates 25. The rod has at one end a knob handle 45. When the long sides of rod 45 are in contact with the plates 39 and 43, they permit the rollers to engage the platen. By turning the knob 45, the short sides of rod 45 may be made to contact with the plates 39 and 43 thereby moving the rollers 31 and 38 away from the platen and permitting a control sheet to be inserted between the said rollers and the platen.

Rollers 41 mounted on a rod 48 carried by the side plates 25 press the control sheet firmly into engagement with the vertical plate 35.

A spring drum motor 55 is carried by the fixed frame l5 and is connected to the carriage l5 to move it longitudinally of the frame. An escapement mechanism is provided to cause the carriage to move one step at a time under the influence of motor 55. The escapement mechanism includes a rack 52 attached to the bottom of the carriage bar l1 and a pair of pivoted pawls 53 and 54 for alternately engaging the rack teeth.

Pawl 53 has a notch 55 engaged by a pin 55 carried by one end of a lever 51. The other end of lever 51 carries a pin-58 loosely seated in a hole 59 in the pawl 54. The lever 51 is fixed intermediate its ends to a rod 55 on which is also loosely pivoted the pawl 54 by means of an elongated slot 5|. The reason for an elongated slot 5| and the loose connection between pin 58 and hole 59 of pawl 54 is to permit longitudinal movement of the pawl under the influence of a spring 52.

As shown in Fig. 2, the pawl 54 is in engagement with rack 52 and pawl 53 is out of engagement therewith. By rocking lever 51 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, pin 55 coacts with slot 55 to force the nose of pawl 53 into engagement with the rack teeth. At the same time, pin 58 and slot 59 coact to force the nose of pawl 54 downwardly and out of contact with the rack teeth. As soon as the pawl 54 disengages a tooth of rack 52, spring 52 pulls it forward under the edge of the next tooth, the rack being held stationary by pawl 53. When the lever 51 is rocked counterclockwise back to the position shown in Fig. 1 the pawl 53 is. disengaged from the rack and pawl 54. movedupwardly. The nose of pawl 54 has however been moved forward by spring 52 so that when the lever 51 now rocks pawl 54 upwardly, it engages the next tooth. Pawl 53 now being disengaged from the rack, spring motor 50 actuates the rack to the left for one tooth space when pawl 54 moving with the rack reaches the limit of its left hand position and is stopped by pins 58 and 55, thus stopping the rack.

Lever 51 which controls the pawls 53 and 54 in the manner just described is actuated by the armature 55 of a magnet 55 supported by the fixed frame. The magnet is energized by means here inafter described in detail. A spring 51 normally rocks the armature counterclockwise on its pivot 58 as viewed in Fig. 1 and away from the magnet. A stud 59 is provided to engage and limit this movement of the armature.

To analyze the printed characters P of the control sheet, an analyzing beam of light 15 is projected from a source 15 in a downwardly inclined direction upon a lens 11. The lens directs the rays of the beam in parallel paths upon a portion of the control sheet resting against the vertical plate 35. The analyzingbeam having hit the control sheet at an angle is reflected therefrom to a diverging lens 18. The latter casts an enlarged image of the beam on a glass plate 19.

Directly below and in proximity to the glass plate 19 is a housing 85 in which are four photoelectric cells A, B, C, and D. The function of the plate 19 is to accurately and conveniently position the beam with relation to the photo-electric cells. The photo-electric cell is extremely reactive to light and if placed in series in a circuit will vary the current in the circuit in proportion to the intensity of the light acting on the cell.

Referring to the circuit diagram, Fig. 8, a. source of electric energy, as battery 85, is placed in series with each of the photo-electric cells. Now, if cell A, for example, is in the path of light rays directed through plate 19 (Fig. 2), it will be energized and a circuit will be completed from one side of the battery 85 through the manual switch 85, line 81, cell A, and an amplifying unit 88, through a switch 89, to the other side of the battery. The amplifying unit is preferably of the vacuum tube type, and will send a greatly amplified current through a magnet coil 98.

In a similar manner when cells B, C, and D are energized by light, circuits will be completed respectively through amplifiers 9|, 92, 93 and magnet coils 94, 95 and 96.

Respectively coacting with magnets 90, 94, 95, and 96, are armatures 91, 98, 99, and I00.

In the embodiment of the invention designed to perforate the cards in accordance with a single index point code, each point representing a different character, armature 91 is connected by a link IM to a selecting contact blade I02 cooperating with either upper contact 103 or lower contact I04. Armature 98 is connected by a link I05 to a plurality of selecting contact blades I06, each of which may cooperate with one or more contact points. Similarly, armatures 99 and I00 are respectively connected to a plurality of selecting contact blades I 01 and I08, each of which coopcrates with one or more contacts. The contacts cooperate in series in combinations to close circuits through punch selector magnets M-0 to 9, only onemagnet at a time being energized.

Thus, if photo cell C is energized by light, armature 99 will be attracted to move contact blades I01 into engagement with upper contact points I09. A circuit will then be completed as follows: from the plus side of the power source through manual switch IIO, contacts III, blade I02, lower contact I04, blade I 07, upper contact I09, blade I06, contact H2, blade I08, contact II3, line I I4, punch control magnet M-8, and through line I I5 to the minus side of the power source.

- The punch magnet M-8 upon energization causes perforation of an index point in the eight position of a'column of the record card in the punching section in a manner which will be explained hereinafter in detail.

To further illustrate the operation of the photo cells in selecting a punch magnet for energization, assume cells A, C and D are acted on by light, energizing each of these cells. This will cause actuation of armatures 91, 99, and I00 to raise blades I02, I01, and I08, respectively. A circuit will now be completed from the plus side of the power source through switch IIO, contacts III, blade I02, contact I03, blade I01, contact I09, blade I06, contact H6, uppermost blade I08, contact In, line I I8 and through punch magnet 5 and line II5 to the minus side of the power source. Punch magnet 5 being energized will cause a perforation to be made in the five position of a column of the card in the punching section in a manner which will be explained in detail hereinafter.

In a similar manner, each of punch magnets M is designed to be energized to cause a single punch to operate upon energization of a combination of the photo cells A, B, C, and D. Fig. 6 shows the code employed in the present instance. The dark circles represent inactive cells and the blank circles represent energized cells. Different combinations of blank and dark circles correspond to the punch marks in the card for representing the numbers 0 to 9. It is obvious that other combinations of dark and energized cells than thoseshown and described may be used. It is also obvious that the combinations are not restricted to causing punching of only numbers but may control punches for perforating a card with index points representing other characters, as for example, letters of the alphabet.

Fig. 5 illustrates a single control field or portion of the control sheet containing a single control character P (see Fig. 1). Control points I20-A, B, C, and D are selected on the control field to be in the same relation to analyzing beam 15 asthe photo cells A, B, C, and D are to the beam'when it is spread out by lens 18 on plate 19. Thus if control point A when struck by rays of the beam I5 reflects these rays to plate 19, photo cell A will be in the path of these rays and consequently be energized. In the same way, when B, C, or D reflect light rays, the corresponding cells B, C or D will be energized. On the other hand, if instead of reflecting rays, either of control points A, B, C, or D absorbs the rays, their corresponding photo cells will not be energized. It is well known that a blacksurface absorbs light and that a white surface reflects light. Hence by selectively making points A, B, C, or D black, they will absorb rays oi. the analyzing beam I5 and their corresponding cells will be inactive.

Referring to Fig. 4, the manner in which points A, B, C, or D are selectively made black will be understood. If the control sheet is white, a black character thereon will absorb light rays. Thus the black character I is placed in the control field so as to cover points B and C leaving points A and D exposed; number 8 covers points A, B, and D, leaving C exposed; and in a similar manner each of characters 09 on the control sheet is contained in a single control fleld and selectively covers and exposes the combination of points indicated in Fig. 4 and-in tabular form in Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will now be clear that when the analyzing beam strikes character 8, for example, the control points A, B, and D being covered will not reflect the beam and corresponding cells A, B, and D will be inactive.

Control point C being exposed, will reflect rays of the beam to plate 19 and the cellC will be energized to cause energization of punch-operating magnet 8 in the manner previously explained herein.

The analyzing beam 15 is of the same dimension as a single control field. Hence the beam.

will read one character at a time. The carriage I5 (Figs. 1 and 2) is moved longitudinally of the fixed frame I0 the distance of one control field after a character has been analyzed and a punchmagnet energized to cause operation of a punch corresponding to the analyzed character. This movement of the carriage is accomplished upon energization and deenergization of magnet 66 through the escapement mechanism previously described herein. After a complete row of characters has been analyzed the knob I is turned torotate platen 26 and feed a second row of characters into cooperation with the analyzing device. The pawl 29 and wheel 21 coact to hold the platen and control sheet in adjusted position.

The manner in which the punch-actuating magnets M upon their being energized cause operation of the punches will be made clear with reference to Fig. 3. A column of punches I25 are vertically, slidably, mounted in the frame I 26. Each punch is above an index point position of a single column of the Hollerith record card I21 when'the latter is at rest on the bed I28 of the frame.

Resting on the head of each punch is an interposer bar I29. The bar has a notch I30 at its forward end which is normally underneath hammer I3I and permits the hammer to freely move wardly thereby forcing the coacting punch I25 downwardly to perforate the card I21. Bar I29 may be moved forward by rocking lever I32 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3. This may be done by manually depressing keys I33 or by magnet Mbeing energized to attract armature I34 comprising the right hand end of lever I32.

Lever I32 when rocked counterclockwise acts upon a vertically slidable rod I35 to move the latter downwardly. The latter in turn rocks a bell lever I36 counterclockwise against the influence of spring I31. The upper end of bell lever I36 is pivoted tointerposer bar I29 and when rocked counterclockwise slides the latter forwardly on frame ledge I38 to position it for coaction with. hammer I3I. The interposer bar is provided with a shoulder I39 engaging the side of a pivoted bar I43 extending across the machine. When the interposer moves forward shoulder I39 rocks bar I40 counterclockwise against the force of spring I4I.- One end of the bar during such movement engages a shoulder I42 on the forward end of a rod I43 to move the rod forwardly. The rear end of the rod is attached to a spring blade I44 and moves the blade and a contact point I45 thereon into engagement with a fixed contact point I46. As a result, a circuit is completed, referring to Fig. 8, from the plus side through contacts I45-I46, through the common hammer actuating magnet I41, and escapement magnet 66 to the minus side of the line.

Referring to Fig. 3 the magnet I41 when thus energized attracts armature I48 which through links I49 and I50 rocks the hammer I3I counterclockwise thereby forcing interposer bar I29 which is now in its forward position downwardly to effect operation of punch I25 against the influence of spring I5I. When hammer I3I rocks counterclockwise a tail I52 thereon engages a hook I53 rigid with rod I43 and lifts the shoulder I42 against the resistance of spring I54 into line with a slot I55 in the rod I40 thereby permitting spring blade I44 to move contact I45 away from contact I46. The circuit through magnet I41 is thus opened.

Near the completion of the punching operation, it is necessary to break the circuit through the selector magnets M. This is effected by a projection I58 (see Fig. 3) on link I49 forcing a spring blade I59 and a lug I60 thereon downwardly. The lug I60 engages a spring blade I 6I and opens contacts III (see Fig. 8) thereby breaking the circuit through the magnets M.

Armatures 91, 98, 99 and I00 when attracted by their corresponding magnets are latched in position by pivoted latches I63. At the completion of the punching operation, the armatures must be released for a subsequent operation. This is eifected by closing of contacts I64 (Figs. 3 and 8) when plate I59 is depressed, simultaneously with opening of contacts III. Referring to Fig. 8 it is seen that closing of contacts I 64 closes a circuit through a magnet I65 which thereupon attracts its armature I66 to move a rod I61 to the right which through lugs I68 cooperating with pins I69 on the latches releases the latches from the armatures 91, 98, 99 and I00 permitting the latter to drop to initial position.

when contacts III are opened in the manner explained above, the selected magnet M is deenergized and permits lever I32 to rise. Spring I31 thereupon acts through ball I36 to move the interposer I29 to initial position. After contacts III have been opened and contacts I64 closed contacts I45 and I46 break, as explained previously, to deenergize magnet I41. The lug I58 thereupon releases plate I59 and permits contacts I I I to close and contacts I64 to open. Open- 5 ing of the latter contacts deenergizes magnet I65 and releases latches I63 for cooperation with armatures 91, 98, 99, and I00.

Since contacts III are now closed and the armatures 91 to I00 in readiness for latching, if the control sheet remained stationary, the same magnet M would again be energized to cause punching. As explained previously, however, the control sheet is automatically advanced one step after each punching operation. This advance is effected upon deenergization of magnet 66 which as may be seen from Fig. 8 occurs simultaneously with deenergization of magnet I41 by opening of contacts I45 and I46 upon completion of the punching operation. When magnet 66 is deenergized, lever 51 (see Fig. 1) rocks counterclockwise, releasing pawl 53 from escapement rack 52 and permitting the latter to move with the carriage I5 one tooth space before it is stopped by pawl 54.

While the record sheet is moving from one position to the next and the beam of light is passing over the space between two adjacent characters, it would be possible, if no means were provided to prevent it, for the photo cells to be prematurely energized thereby latching one or more of the armatures 91 to I00 which armatures might remain latched when the next character is being sensed thereby causing an erroneous analysis. Further, if the action of pawls 53 and 54 under control of magnet 66 is faster than the action of the tail I58 (see Fig. 3) in deenergizing magnet I65 under the control of magnet I41, the control sheet carriage will move while the latches I63 are still in ineffective position. Undesirable energization of the cells might then occur as explained above to attract the corresponding armatures momentariiy. The latches being ineffective, the armatures will simply flutter from attracted to released positions.

Both undesirable latching of the armatures 91 to I00 and fluttering of the armatures by energization of the cells while the control sheet is in motion is prevented by opening of contacts 63 (see Figs. and 8) under control of pawl 54 (Fig. 1) as soon as magnet 66 is energized under control of the selected magnet M. The opening of contacts 89 is thereby effected while magnet 66 is energized at which time the control sheet is stationary. Contacts 89 remain open to prevent completion of a circuit through the photo cells until the punching operation has been completed and the control carriage moved to the next position.

Referring to Figs. 1 and '1, contacts 83 are seen to be normally held closed by engagement of the contact blade I15 with the rear end of pawl 54 while the latter is holding rack 52 stationary. When magnet 66 is energized under control of a magnet M, the pawl 54 is released from the rack. As previously described, spring 62 thereupon immediately draws the pawl to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and '7. The rear end of pawl 54 thereby moves away from blade I15 the length of slot 6| and the contacts 89 open. Rack 52 is now 71 being held stationary by pawl 53. when the punching operation is completed, magnet 66 is deenergized to withdraw pawl 53 from the rack and the latter moves to its new position. Pawl 54 thereupon is moved by rack 52 to its initial ll position-see Figs. 1 and 7--and reaches said position simultaneously with completion of the movement of the rack. The contacts 89 there'- fore remain open until the rack is again at rest, after which they stay closed until magnet 66 is again energized.

After a card I21 in the punching section is perforated, the card is advanced to the next col-v umn for the succeeding punching operation. To accomplish this, the card feeder I80 (Fig. 3) is provided with a rack I8I moved through gears I82 by a spring drum I83. The rack is normally prevented from moving by engagement with pawl I84. During punching when actuator I3I depresses an interposer I29, a bail I85 is rocked by the latter counterclockwise (Fig. 3). Lever I86 rigid with bail I85 thereupon moves pawl I84 out of engagement with rack I8I and moves a pawl I81 into engagement with the rack preventing movement of the latter. Spring I810. moves pawl I84 to the right (Fig. 3) to the limit of slot I88 to position the pawl above the next tooth of rack I8I.

When the punching operation is completed, interposer I29 permits bail I86 to rock clockwise, releasing pawl I81 from the rack and permitting the latter to move one tooth space to the left before stopped by pawl I84. In this manner a punching operation is finished, the next card column is fed under the punches. This feeding movement occurs when the interposer is released by actuator I3I as soon as magnets 66 and I47 are deenergized. The magnet 66 effects feeding of the control sheet. Thus the card in the punching section and the control sheet are simultaneously fed step by step.

The operation of the machine shown in Figs.

1 to 9, in brief, is as follows: The control sheet is at rest. contacts 89 and III are closed and contacts I45I46 and I64 are open. Analyzing beam I5 is reading control character 4, for example, on the control sheet. The control character 4 reflects the analyzing beam onto plate 19 and the reflected beam is dark in the C and D positions (see Figs. 4 and 6). Cells A and B alone are therefore energized by light and corresponding armatures 91 and 98 are attracted by magnets 88 and 9|, respectively. The armatures are latched in attracted position by latches I63. A circuit (see Fig. 8) is now complete from the plus side of the power through switch IIO, contacts III, blade I02, contact I03, blade I01, blade I06, contact I90, blade I08, contact I9I, line I92 and through magnet M4 to the minus side of the power. The magnet M4 thereupon through the lever I32 corresponding to the punch in four position of the card column causes the interposer I29 of the four punch to advance. Contacts I45 and I46 are thereby closed by rod I43 energizing magnets 66 and I4! (see Figs. 3 and 8).

Magnet 66 thereupon disengages pawl 54 from the rack and opens contacts 89 preventing further energization of the photo cells until the next cycle.

Magnet I41 upon energization, operates actuator I3I which through interposer I29 depresses the punch I25. Tail I58 controlled by'magnet I4'I has, then moved in position to open contacts II'I deenergizing magnet M4 and permitting the interposer to return to initial position.

When contacts III areopened, contacts I64 are closed to release latches I63 from armatures 91 and 98.

Immediately after opening of contacts III and closing of contacts I64, the tail I 52 of actuator I3I releases rod I43 from plate I40 and permits contacts I45 and I46 to open. This-deenergizes the magnets I41 and 66. The former then causes contacts III to close and contacts I64 to open at the same time permitting the actuator I3I to rise and cause operation of the escapement I9I to feed the card a column space.

coincidentally, deenergization of magnet 66 causes the control sheet to be fed through release of escapement of rack 52. At the completion of the escapement movement, pawl 54 closes contacts 89. The control sheet is now at rest in a new position, contacts 89 and III are closed, contacts I45-I46 and I64 are open. This is the initial status of the machine and a new cycle is ready to begin.

In automatic accounting practice, a combinational hole system of representing characters is made use of in addition to or as an alternative to the Hollerith or single point system of representing characters. The combinational hole system permits use of a smaller card spacefor representing a greater number of characters and is especially designed and adapted to represent letters of the alphabet.

When using the combinational hole system. the

tabulating card is perforated with a combination of holes, each combination representing a different character.

V Fig. 10 illustrates a modification of the invention whereby combinational hole punching of a card under control of the original data on sheet S is accomplished. In place of armatures 91, 98, 99, and I00 each controlling a plurality of contacts acting in combinations to cause a single punch at a time to operate as explained in connection with Fig. 8, each of said armatures controls only a single contact which by itself causes a punch to operate. Energization of a plurality of cells will therefore cause simultaneous operation of a plurality of punches.

The control field of a combinational card in the present instance, is similar in appearance to the table in Fig. 6 and each card may have a plurality of such fields one above the other. Thus, if in one column a perforation occurs in each of card positions A and D, the column designates number 1. If the next column has perforations in the'A, C, and D positions, it represents number 5, and so on.

It is clear that Fig. 6 represents not only the control field of a card and the combinations of perforations for designating different characters but also represents the cell combinations energized by reading of the same characters. Thus, if character 3 on control sheet S is sensed by beam I5, cells C and D are energized and cause operation of the punches to perforate positions C and D of the combinational card to designate character 3.

In more detail, referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9, assume that analyzing beam 15 is reading character 7 on the control sheet S, the carriage I5 is at rest, contacts 89 and III are closed, and contacts I45--I46 and I64 are open. By reference to Fig. 6, it is seen that analysis of character '7 en- MA, MB, and M-D, the path of the circuits being from the plus side of the line through switch Ill, common line 208, and through the closed contacts 200-404, 2lll205, and 203-201 through magnets MA, MB, and MD respectively to the common return line 209. Energization of the magnets MA, B, and D, operates the corresponding levers I32 to advance the interposers I29 above the A, B, and D positions of the card as indicated in Fig. 9. The interposers thereupon through members llll and I43 (see Fig. 3) close contacts 5-446 (see Figs. 3, 9 and 10). This completes a circuit through magnets I41 and 66 (see Fig. 10). Magnet lll thereupon operates hammer I3l to depress the advanced interposers and operates the corresponding punches in the A, B, and D positions of the card.

The remaining operation of the machine is the same as that of the first-described single-hole embodiment of the invention. Thus, magnet 66 operates the escapement of carriage i5 to advance the control sheet to the next number, magnet I65 is energized to withdraw the latches I63 from the attracted armatures, the punch carriage is advanced and a new operation is ready to begin.

In a similar manner, energization of any combination of magnets MA, B, C, and D causes combination punching of the tabulating card to represent the numbers 0-9 in accordance with the code shown in Fig. 6.

It is apparent that while the invention has been shown as' pplied to the modifications disclosed herein, v ations within the limits permitted by the functions and relations necessary to the proper carrying out of the principles of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended to be limited therefore, only by the scope of the following claims:

1. A machine for making a perforated record comprising a column of punches, a control sheet bearing data designated by conventionally significant characters such as printed numerals, each in a separate field of the sheet and each spread over and covering one or more points arbitrarily arranged vertically and horizontally in the field relative to each other, a plurality of light reactive elements, equal in number to the points in said field, for simultaneously reading all the points of a field at one time, means for selecting the punches by the light reactive elements in accordance with the combination of points in each field read thereby, means for operating the selected punches to make a record corresponding in value to the conventionally significant characters read by the light reactive means, and separate means for feeding the perforated record and control sheet in response to each operation of the punches.

2. A machine for making a perforated record, comprising a series of punches, a control sheet bearing data designated by conventionally significant characters such as numerals, each character being in a separate field and spread over and covering one or more of a series of arbitrarily arranged points in the field, a plurality of light sensitive elements for successively reading each character and operated in combinations depending on the combinations of points in a field covered by the character therein, means controlled by a combination of said elements for operating only one of the punches to make a perforated record corresponding to the value of the conventionally significant character read by said elements, and separate means for feeding the perforated record a distance equal to the distance between the successive perforations and the control sheet a distance equal to the distance between successive characters.

3. A machinefor making perforated records comprising a reading device for analyzing printed characters and including a bank of sensing elements adapted to be combinationally selectively activated by uncovered portions of the background or field of a data sheet on which the characters appear, perforating devices, selecting mechanism controlled by the sensing elements for setting one or more of the perforating devices according to portions of the background which are not covered by the character, and separate means for controlling the position of the data sheet and the records being perforated by the perforating devices.

4. In combination, a control sheet bearing data designations in the form of visual characters of conventional shape such as numerals, a plurality of sensing points, a plurality of analyzing elements, equal in number to the said points, for interpreting the visual significance of the characters including devices for reading limited fields of the control sheet each of which fields contains a character and said analyzing elements being adapted to be simultaneously and combinationaliy affected differently by different characters, rec 0rd perforating devices controlled by the analyzing elements in accordance with the combination of analyzing elements affected by a character sensed by said elements, and separate means for causing the analyzing means to successively analyze different fields of the control sheet and for causing the record to be perforated in successive different places by the perforating devices.

JAMES W. BRYCE. 

